Antiglare device



Nov. 19, 1935. G. KUHN 2,021,790

' ANTIGLARE DEVICE original Filed Aug. 2, 1929 2 sheets-shed 1 I gwvemtoc Geog@ fa/7n Nov. 19, 1935. G' KUHN 2,021,790

ANTIGLARE DEVICE original Filed Aug. 2, 1929 2 sheets-sheet 2 WWWWWWW `I gwomlo eofge Kuh/7;

wm Wf Patented Nov. '19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AN TIGLARE DEVICE Application August 2, 1929, Serial No. 382,938

Renewed March 11, 1933 n 8 Claims.

The present invention relates particularly to anti-glare devices for Vehicle headlights provided with parabolic reflectors, the devices being installable during the headlight assembly, but at the same time constituting self-supporting units readily nstallable as accessories.

The devices are so designed that while a substantially unimpaired reflected beam will be thrown directly ahead of the headlight, the refleeting surface will be rendered invisible to one looking from an angle in front of the headlight lamp, and means are also provided to intercept irregular rays in the reiiector arising from irregularities of the latter and re-reflections from the l5, lens.

According to .a modification, direct rays from the lamp are permitted to be thrown downwardly and divergently to each side of the major axis of the reflector.

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a front view of the anti-glare device mounted in a headlight, the view being a section on line I-l of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a rear perspective of the device, and Figures 5 to 7 are views of the modied form of the device taken similarly to Figs. 1, 2 and 4 respectively.

Referring rst to Figures 1.to 4 of the drawings reference numeral I indicates a headlight shell supporting .a parabolic reflector Il which in turn supports an electric bulb I 2 with its center in the major axis oi the reflector. A ring I3 fitting over the outer periphery of shell I 0 supports a lens Il in front of the reflector.

The anti-glare device which is to lit within the reilector may be most clearly seen in Figure 4. Referring to this figure, intersecting plates are indicated at I5 and I6, the former being vertical and the latter horizontal. These plates are so shaped that when tted in reflector II their edges closely follow the contours of the latter so as to divide the space within the reflector into four divisions, the line of intersection of the plates coinciding with the axial line of the reflector. The iorward edges of the plates are rectilinear and ,are adapted to lie against the rear face of lens I4 and to be secured to the margins of the latter by means of integral strips as at I'I and I3 adapted to be bent thereover (see valso Figures 2 and 3). 'I'he rear ends of plates I5 and I6 are provided with cut-outs to accommodate bulb I2 and in these cut-outs is positioned a mask I9 adapted to intercept the direct outward rays from the bulb. If desired, mask I9 may be of such shape as to throw the direct rays from the bulb back to the reflector whence they will be directed forwardly through the lens. 5 When the device is designed for use as an accessory, however, it will be preferably in some instances to render the mask non-reflecting inasmuch as accurate adjustment relative to the bulb is required if it is to act as a reecting medium. 10v

Mounted on the horizontal plate I6 are a series of parallel vertical ns 20, these ns gradually decreasing in width to each side of the axis of the reflector and each lin gradually decreasing in width upwardly and downwardly of the axis 15 so that their rear edges define a conical surface having its apex at the bulbcenter and its base perimeter substantially at the mouth of the reilector. In this manner the entire inner surface of the reflector receives the direct rays of 20 the bulb, as indicated in Figure 3. Inasmuch as the ns decrease laterally in width, they are successively arranged somewhat closer together as they approach the sides of the reflector. The ns may be conveniently mounted on plate I6 25 by providing each of them with a kerf and providing plate I8 with complementary kerfs in the same manner in which collapsible egg containers are assembled.

Fins 2|! permit the reflected rays to be pro- 30 jected substantially without interference so that objects directly in advance of the headlight will be clearly illumined. The bulb and the reflecting surfaces are, however, entirely invisible to one in' front of and at one side of the headlight so 35 that glare is entirely eliminated.

Plates I5 and it serve to intercept stray rays caused by imperfections in the reilector and by re-reflections from the lens. It will be noted that these plates serve as supporting means for 40 all the elements of the anti-glare unit .and furthermore, they provide means for securing the device as a whole in position in the reflector. If desired, the ns may be additionally strengthened by means of one or more cross members 2|, Fig- 45 ures 1 and 2. Preferably, all parts of the device are blackened with the exception, when desired, of the interior of cup I9 which as mentioned above m'ay constitute a reflecting surface.

As above stated, the width of the ns decreases 50 outwardly from the axis of the reilector and the ns are spaced progressively closer together. If the spacing were uniform it would have to be the minimum permissible spacing between any two fins. Due to the increasing width of the fins I5 as the reflector axis is approached, however, it is possible to space the fins progressively farther apart as the reflector axis is approached, thus enabling a minimum number of fins to be used with a consequent minimum light obstruction. As may be most clearly understood from Figure 3, vertical planes each including the rearmost point of a fin and the forward edge of the next adjacent fin are substantially parallel. This means that from a point of vision in front of the headlamp and to the side thereof, a simultaneously' closing effect is produced as the headlamp and point of vision are approached. As the headlamp and the point of vision are approached the light passages between the fins narrow gradually and substantially uniformly until in the central horizontal zone of the headlamp the openings are entirely closed and hereupon the top and bottom Zones gradually close. This uniform closing effect is an important feature of the invention in the elimination of glare.

With the use of a suitable tool, ring I3 may be pried from shell I. Herein the tool is intended to be applied at the bottom of the ring causing the latter to swing about an axis at its upper edge, this axis being substantially perpendicular to the plane of plate I5. The upper edge of the cut-out in plate l5 is suitably inclined rearwardly and away from the axis of the reflector so as to be able to clear the light source as the lens is swung, Figures 2 and 4. The other edges of the cut-outs may be parallel to each other as particularly shown in Figure 4 and equi-distant from the reflector axis at a distance only slightly greater than the'maximum radial dimension of the source.

The structure illustrated in Figures 5 to 7 is exactly the same as that illustrated in Figures 1 and 4 so far as general characteristics are concerned. Plates l5 and I6, Figure 7, are identically the same as those already described. The mask I9', however, differs from mask I9 in that below plate I6 and laterally of plate I5 it is provided with arcuate cut-outs as at 22, Figures 6 and 7. Also the portions of fins 20 above plate I6 are the same as the corresponding portions of the fins 20. However, the portions of fins 20 below plate I6 and at each side of plate I5 are cut away so as to define, with cut-outs 22, a reverse conical surface, that is, reverse relative to the conical surface defined by their upper portions, with its apex at the center of the bulb and its base arc re-entrant to the perimeter of the reflector. Thus a semi-conical surface is defined by fins 20 above plate I6, while two quarter conical surfaces are defined by the fins below plate I6. As will be understood this configuration of the lower portions of the ns permits, due to cut-outs 22, direct rays of the bulb to issue downwardly and divergently from the reflector. Those parts of the structure of Figures 5 to 7 identical with the structure of Figures 1 to 4 have been given the same reference numerals as the latter.

It will be seen from the above that I have provided an anti-glare device of valuable characteristics which may be easily constructed and readily applied to a reflector, the device as a whole constituting a self-sustaining unit.

y It will be understood that the embodiments shown and described are merely illustrative of my invention and that I do not limit myself except as determined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. An anti-glare device for use with a paraand its base arc at substantially the outer edge of the reflector, the portions of the fins below said axis and at each side thereof defining a reverse quarter-conical surface with its apex at the source and its base arc re-entrant to the perimeter of the reflector.

2. An anti-glare device for use with a parabolic reflector provided with a source of light in the major axis thereof, said device comprising a horizontal and a vertical plate in intersecting relation adapted to be mounted within the reflector, the plates being so shaped as to follow closely the inner contours of the reflector with their lin-e of intersection coincident with said axis, the inner ends of said plates being provided with cut-outs to accommodate said source, and a series of vertical parallel fins mounted upon the horizontal plate, said fins gradually diminishing in width in both directions laterally of said axis, and each fin diminishing gradually in width upwardly of said axis, whereby the portions of the fins above said axis define a semi-conical surface having its apex at the source and its base arc at substantially the outer edge of the reflector, the portions of the fins below the horizontal plate and at each side of the vertical plate defining a reverse quarter-conical surface with its apex at the source and ,its base arc re-entrant to the perimeter of the reflector.

3. An anti-glare device for use with a parabolic reflector provided with a source of light in the major axis thereof, said device comprising a horizontal and a vertical plate in intersecting relation adapted to be mounted within the reflector, the plates being so shaped as to follow closely the inner contours of the reflector with their line of intersection coincident with said axis, the inner ends of said plates being provided with cut-outs to accommodate said source, and a series of vertical parallel fins mounted upon the horizontal plate, said fins gradually diminishing in width in bothV directions laterally of said axis, and each fin diminish- .ing gradually in width upwardly of Vsaid axis.

whereby the portions of the ns above said axis define a semi-conical surface having its apex at the source and its base arc at substantially the outer edge of the reflector, the portions of the fins below the horizontal plate and at each side of the vertical plate defining a reverse quarterconical surface with its apex at the source and its base arc re-entrant to the perimeter of the reflector, and a mask supported in said cut-outs in front of said source to intercept the direct outward rays of the latter above the horizontal plate.

4. The combination with a headlight comprising a parabolic reflector, a source of light dis-l posed in the major axis of the reflector, and a lens at the mouth of the reflector, of an antiglare device comprising a horizontal and a vertical plate within the reflector and intersecting each other along said axis, the edges of said plates closely following the inner contours of said reflector, the inner ends of said plates being provided with cut-outs to accommodate said source, the outer ends of said plates terminating in strips adapted to be bent over the lens to secure the plates in position, a mask supported in said cutouts in position to intercept the direct rays of the source above the horizontal plate, and a series of vertical parallel fins mounted upon the horizontal plate, said fins gradually 'diminishing in width in both directions laterally of said axis and each fin diminishing gradually in width upwardly of said axis whereby the portions of the fins above said axis define a semi-conical surface having its apex at the source and its base aro at substantially the outer edge of the reflector, the portions of the iins below the horizontal plate and at each side of the vertical plate dening a reverse quarter-conical surface with its apex at the source and its base arc re-entrant to the perimeter of the reflector.

5. For use with an automobile headlamp comprising a parabolic reector with a source of light in the major axis thereof, and a removable lens, an anti-glare device comprising a horizontal and a vertical plate rigidly connected together in intersecting relation and adapted for insertion in the reflector, the plates having non-reflecting surfaces and being so shaped as to follow closely the inner contours of the reflector with their line of intersection coincident with said axis, and means for securing said plates to said lens for insertion and removal therewith, the inner ends of said plates being provided with cut-outs to accommodate said source, the cut-out in each of said plates being throughout of a width greater than the maximum transverse dimension of said source and the cut-out in one of said plates having at one side of the source an edge inclined relative tosaid axis to provide clearance so that the lens may be swung to and from operative position about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said last named plate without interference of said plates with said source, said cut-outs being of a size to afford substantially minimum clearance without interference with said source.

6. For use in an. automobile headlamp comprising a reflector, a light source, and a lens, an anti-glare device positionable within the reflector and comprising a series of opaque vertical fins substantially perpendicular to the plane of the lens and variably spaced between the axis of the reflector and one side of the reflector, said ns defining light passages between them and diminishing in width from said axis outwardly, the spacing. of the ns being such that, from a point of vision in advance of the headlamp and spaced laterally of the headlamp on that side of the reflector axis on which the fins are disposed, a simultaneous closing effect is secured in a horizontal zone of the headlamp as the headlamp and point of vision are approached, there being a similar series of fins on the other side of the reector axis.

7. Structure according to claim 6 wherein the inner edges of the fins of the two series are shaped to lie substantially in the surface of a cone coaxial with the reector and having its apex substantially at the light source.

8. For use in an automobile headlamp comprising a reflector, a light source, and a lens, an anti-glare device positionable within the reflector and comprising a series of opaque vertical fins substantially perpendicular to the plane of the lens and spaced apart between the reiiector axis and one side of the reflector, the inner edges of said fins being shaped to lie substantially in the surface of a cone coaxial with the reflector and having its apex substantially at the light source, the spacing of said fins decreasing outwardly'from said axis so that vertical planes inclined relative to said axis and each including the rearmost point of one fin and the forward edge of the outwardly adjacent fin are substantially parallel, there being a similar series of fins on the other side of said axis.

GEORGE KUHN. 

